NEWS

25/10/2011

Lotus ART complete 2012 line up

James Calado with French squad in 2011 GP2 Final and 2012 season

Lotus ART is happy to announce that it has established its driver lineup for the 2012 GP2 Series Championship. Along with Esteban Gutierrez, Racing Steps Foundation driver James Calado will be taking part in the Abu Dhabi races, November 12 & 13 2011, and will be racing for the team in the 2012 championship.Runner up in the GP3 series in his first year in the sport, James brought home one win, six podiums, and one pole position, but he also met every one of Lotus ART’s human, technical, and sporting expectations. The collaboration between Lotus ART and James therefore follows the team’s logic and James’ career profile.

James Calado: “This is excellent news because it allows me to climb up an additional level very early in the season and I will then have the time to prepare myself for the challenge of the GP2 Series. I could not dream of a better team to meet this challenge with. Lotus ART's tremendous expertise and approach have no equal and with Lotus ART I know that I have everything I need to integrate myself quickly and well into this extremely competitive championship. Lotus ART and I have demonstrated what we can do in the GP3 Series and I hope that we will do the same in the GP2 Series. I am again grateful to the RSF for supporting me in my next step up.”

Frédéric Vasseur: “James’ performances in his first year in the GP3 Series was a key reason for continuing our collaboration in the GP2 Series. James impressed Lotus ART with his professional approach and his ability to face every race situation: safety car, changing track conditions, starting from the back of the grid, he was spared nothing and James always rose to the task with a remarkable state of mind and performances which enabled him to compete for the title down to the last race. I believe that James has the potential to pull the team to the top and to win races in 2012.”

Speaking of James’ confirmed 2012 plans, Racing Steps Foundation founder Graham Sharp said: “James’ progress since he became a part of the Foundation has been really impressive. Each season he has raised his game to meet the new challenges of new formulae with maturity, dedication and professionalism as a result of which he’s more than earned the Foundation’s backing for a Lotus ART GP2 seat.”